100 local militants finish bomb training–GMA assistant

Source: Business mirror

COTABATO CITY—The President’s assistant for Southern Philippines said some 100 bandits have recently finished training on bomb making in Mindanao.

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza told reporters after his visit at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, where blast victims were confined, that people in Central Mindanao must unite to counter acts of terrorism.

“This is no longer isolated but orchestrated. That’s the briefing to me by the military. Over the last period, they [military authorities] have monitored three training programs for [future] bomb makers. We don’t know what they will do…some will do test missions…we cannot tell,” Dureza said.

“And from January to present, there were 56 cases of bombings in the region. So the incidents are orchestrated, not isolated. There’s a pattern. But I don’t want to speculate what groups are behind the attacks.”

Dureza said with the number of new bomb experts, those behind the blasts can wreak more havoc.

“No evidence [was] given to me by the military about the involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Dureza said. At least six people have been killed in the latest bomb attacks in the region.

Meanwhile, Party-list Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela filed House Resolution 1257 directing the House Committee on Public Order and Safety to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the string of bomb-related incidents in Maguindanao, Cotabato City and parts of Metro Manila, and the most recent explosions in Jolo, Sulu, and Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

Maza stressed the urgency of an immediate and independent investigation on these incidents so as the persecute those responsible for these evil acts and attain justice for the victims and their families.

“The brains behind these blasts appear to be all set in spawning an atmosphere of terror and hysteria to all Filipinos. It is just so suspicious that these string of bombings happen as President Arroyo’s final Sona [State of the Nation Address] draws near,” Maza said.

“Tila ang mensahe ng mga may pakana nito ay balutin tayo araw-araw sa takot at kaguluhan. Hindi natin papayagang magwagi sila at ang kanilang mga balak dahil buhay at pagkatao natin ang nasasakripisyo. Kailangang puksain ang mga utak sa likod ng walang saysay na karahasang ito,” she added.

Relatedly, proadministration legislators scored Lakas Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. for claiming that the bombings are a prelude to the declaration of martial law or a state of emergency.

Describing it as a “dangerous” statement, de Venecia’s party-mate, Lakas Rep. Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City, said it lacked credibility because it come from the former Speaker.

“This is a dangerous accusation unless he [de Venecia] has substantial proof.  Here we go again. Representative de Venecia wants to be in the limelight again. Good thing it is coming from him. [It has] not much credibility,” Puentevella said.

Reports quoting de Venecia said the former Speaker claimed rogue military elements were more likely responsible for the bombings than terrorist groups, akin to the pattern of the bomb scare that preceded the declaration of martial law by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

 Liberal Party Rep. Paul Daza of Northern Samar said until proof is presented, everything remains to be in the realm of speculation.

“That’s all speculation. It may even be antigovernment groups doing the destabilization to discredit the government,” Daza said.

Puentevella said if de Venecia has evidence linking some government men to the blast, then he should immediately give it to the investigators and let them do the talking.

“Obviously, he has no proof whatsoever when he made such irresponsible allegation before media.”

Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon said administration critics should not exploit the Cotabato bombing to sow public fear of a martial declaration and cancellation of elections next year.

“It’s absurd how critics keep on promoting their martial-law and no-elections theories to malign the administration and agitate the people. They’re even using the Cotabato blast to enhance their impossible scenarios,” said Suarez.

But Party-list Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan said that the perpetrators of the spate of bombings in Metro Manila are building a scenario that is beneficial to President Arroyo’s post-2010 game plan.

“We urge the public to be vigilant. Clearly the perpetrators of these acts are willing to sacrifice the lives of civilians to achieve a political agenda,” said Baraquel.

She said that the bombings are politically motivated claiming that the terrorist scare could always be used by Malacañang to extend Arroyo’s stay in power.

(With F. Marasigan)